Police Chief Skip Holbrook talked about the hiring and the agency’s recruitment efforts Aug. 7 at a statewide gathering of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Branches from across the state met at Huntington’s First Baptist Church.

Holbrook told the NAACP that various groups, such as the city’s Black Pastors’ Ministerial Association, had expressed the need for his force to hire more minorities. He inherited a department with 86 total officers, which included five women and two minorities.

Jammal Goodman, a 31-year-old, Brooklyn, N.Y., native, is one of four Huntington police officers among 38 basic officers scheduled to graduate Friday, Aug. 20, from the West Virginia State Police Academy in Institute.

“He’s an outstanding young man,” Holbrook said. “I’m very proud of the fact that we were able to find somebody of his quality, and he’s going to be an asset to our department and the community.”

But the effort doesn’t stop with Goodman’s swearing in, the chief said.

Holbrook told NAACP leaders he accepted the past criticism and took action. His department has received input from the Fairfield West neighborhood, expanded its recruiting zone to 300 miles and started targeting minority universities and colleges.

“Our department needed to represent the community in terms of its makeup,” he said in recalling past criticism. “I do agree with that. … We need to do better.”

Minorities account for about 10 percent of the population in the city of Huntington and about 4.5 percent for the Huntington-Ashland metro area, according to Census statistics.

Holbrook views doing better as a key necessity to his department maintaining its standards.

“We want to foster a relationship, foster those qualities that we need that makes men and women want to come and be a Huntington police officer and be proud of this profession,” he said.

Sometimes meeting that desire requires a better first impression. Huntington Police Capt. Hank Dial said the department met with an agency to redevelop its recruitment brochures and advertising campaign. For instance, he said previous advertisements consisted of “Wanted” billboards and posters more closely resembling a method used to catch a fugitive.

“We’re now stepping out of that,” Dial said. “That almost has a negative connotation. So we’re changing all of that.”

The captain told attendees they could see products of the new campaign as early as October with testing to begin in January 2011. He said the new campaign has been developed by professionals, who advised the department as to necessary items that should be included to attract certain demographics.

Dial said applicants likely will have until late January 2011 to apply.

But improving the department’s relationship with minorities doesn’t stop at recruiting.

Holbrook told attendees it also involves being selective as to whom the department hires. His administration has developed a review board, which includes members of the African-American community. Among its members are local NAACP branch president Silvia Ridgeway, the Rev. Reginald Hill of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and a member of Cabell County Schools.

“We want other people in the community, not just police officers, to participate in that process and give us that feedback,” Holbrook said. “If they see something in a recruit or applicant that causes a red flag to go up, we want to know that, and we want to look into it and make sure we’re making good decisions.”

After the applicant leaves the room, Dial said the review board engages in a conversation. They discuss the interview and receive the community members’ input.

“There’s been folks that we’ve decided not to hire after that discussion,” Dial said. “We pretty much agree pretty quickly when it’s one of those folks.”

Coston Davis Jr. , the president for the state and Charleston NAACP branches, spoke of his efforts to help the Charleston Police Department recruit black officers. He would attend the physical and written test to encourage black applicants. He urged Huntington’s community to do the same, step past the last 16 years and join the enhanced strategy.

“I would shake each one of their hands as they came in to let them know the NAACP is supportive of this initiative,” he said. “It’s not just a one-way street. It has to be a two-way street. We have to show the same commitment that they’re showing. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s a process.”

At the NAACP meeting, comments from Holbrook and Dial did garner some questions and slight criticism, including from Phil Carter, a social work professor at Marshall University.

“That’s inexcusable,” he said of the department’s 16-year span in hiring its last black officer. “I mean I don’t understand how that could happen.”

Carter excused Holbrook as he has only been chief for a short time, but he criticized the department, calling the lack of minority representation a “systemic problem” demanding “something has to drastically be done in order to break that cycle.”

“I completely agree,” Holbrook said.

Another attendee asked about specific goals, such as how many minority officers the chief wanted to hire by 2012.

“Our goal is to continue to enhance our recruitment efforts to attract as many minority applicants as possible,” Holbrook replied. “To me the goal is to attract as many qualified applicants as possible.”

Carter encouraged the police chief to seek input for black community members who possess a high level of afrocentric understanding and black consciousness. Particularly those experienced in dealing with youth within the black community.

“SO how can I prepare for the police officer academy”

The first thing you can do right now to prepare for the police training academy is to invest in a introduction to law enforcement book. You can get one at any local library or anywhere on line. There you’ll want to learn the history of law enforcement and how it evolved. You’ll also want to learn some general definitions within in the criminal justice system. Once you do that, you’ll want to know the role of the prosecutor in your county or state. The prosecutor is extremely important as you’ll have contact with he/she throughout your law enforcement career.

Study… Study… Study

Whether you’re paying your own way to the academy or you’re being sponsored by a local department, you must understand that you can flunk the academy at any time and be sent home. Don’t underestimate the importance of preparing yourself physically, and mentally for the academy. Although you’ll be stressed to the max during the academy, you’ll also be expected to pass the many exams that you’ll be given.

In conclusion, if you want to get prepared for the police academy and guarantee yourself a passing score, then I suggest that you go and download a police academy review guide.

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Applications are being accepted for the 12th annual Citizens Police Academy, which begins March 17 and continues to May 5.

Applications can be picked up at the front desk at the police station, 344 Elgin St., and are also available at the police service’s website at www.police.brantford.on.ca

The academy is an opportunity to learn more about policing. Topics covered include forensic identification, major crime investigation, Internet predators and how to protect your children, use of force as well as accident investigation and reconstruction.

Participants also have an opportunity to tour the police station, learn about the auxiliary police and see a breath demonstration. Sessions are held once a week in the community room at the police station.

A graduation ceremony is held following the eight-week academy. A draw will be held for five participants to have a “ride along” with a police officer.

Last year’s academy attracted more than 40 people, making it the largest ever held in Brantford.

The history of the police academy can be traced to the United Kingdom in 1977. Locally, the first Brantford academy was held in 1999 facilitated by then staff sergeant Derek McElveny, now the city’s police chief.

The program’s goal is to give citizens a better understanding of the challenges and responsibilities that come with policing.

People interested in the academy should be mature community- minded adults representing a range of ages and occupations. Security checks will be completed before the selection of participants and a valid photo identification is required.

The academy is facilitated by Staff Sgt. Rudy Jambrosic and Det. Ed Sanchuk. For more information, telephone the police station at 519-756-0113, ext. 2300.

Many Police Academies do not allow open enrollment, however some states require you to be certified before applying for a Police Officer position with a municipality.  Some police academies require that you are hired by a police agency and then they will send you to the academy.  Other jurisdictions will offer the police academy as a college course of study, and once completed you would then be able to apply to a police agency for consideration for hiring.  Check your local police academy standards in reference to this.

Education: Usually a Police Academy will require you to hold a High School Diploma or a GED equivalent.  Some police academies do require a 4 year college degree or 3 years of generalized work experience as well.

Physical Fitness: A Police Academy will usually require a physical fitness exam.  Where most police academies differ is what the physical fitness consists of.  Most police academies require a run, whether it is a 1 mile, 1 ½ mile run, or more, under a certain predetermined time, depending on sex and age.

Successful Completion of Course: The police academy will provide many tests or exams.  Successful completion of these exams is required.  There will usually be many written exams, based on law, criminal procedure law, etc.  There will also be the physical fitness test, usually an entrance and exit exam.  There will also be defensive tactics exams to show proficiency in self defense, defensive tactics and arrest techniques.  There may be other exams as well as required by each local academy.

Every Police Academy is different so that it is important to check the standards and requirements with each local police academy.